The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-07-13
ALL BUT HANGED.

The story of man who is reprieved
while standing on the scatfold with the
moose about his neck, must always thrill.
The fact of any one standing in the pres
ence of death for "a moment has strange
fascination about it, and his fellow men
are anxious to know what his thoughts
and feelings were as he expected to be
ushered into eternity. 1t has been my i'll
luck to look squarely into the eyes of
grim death on several occasions, and my
good luck to preserv, my life aga .nst the
fate which seemed to hunger for it; and
some of the incidents may prove interest
ing to the general reader.
During the siege of Yorktown by Nc
Clellan was detailed from my company
to do scout work. While my reports no
doubt went to the commander himself,
reported directly. to q division com
mander, whom I never met without
being forced to notice the fact that he
was the worse for liquor. Later on in the
war there was chief of scouts, but at
this time there were half dozen of us
taking orders direct from this General
and reporting back to him in person. On
my third trip was very nearly captured
by the Confederates, and in the squeeze
got rid of all my papers, including the
pass which gave me entrance and exit
to the Federal lines. Therefore, when l
finally reached the Federal picket post
had nothing by which to identify myself.
The officer in command of the reserve
picket post was a smart Aleck, who
thought to add to his Importance by re-
fusing to believe my story and sending
me to the headquarters of the brigade.
There l was regarded as veritable
Confederate spy, and the General in COM
mand was extremely pompous in his de-
meanor toward me. I can remember
the conversation as wildly as if it took
place yesterday. By the time reached
his tent my arms had been tied behind
me, and l was looked upon as very
dangerous fellow.
$50 you are the spy captured down
there at the pickett" shouted the General
as stood before him.
81 am no spy, sir, 1 replied.
"Oh, no, of course not; but don't you
talk back to me, you internal tratror
Who sent you spying into our campo"
81 am Union soldier, sir, and be-
long To-"
'Shut up, you .scoundrel! Don't
think that you can stand there and lie to
me. What rebel command do you be-
long to?"
''None, sir. am Union scout, and
was detailed"
"Stop!" he shouted, while his face
grew crimson. "While the truth NAV
not help you, I hate to see you stand in
the presence of death with lie upon
your lips. Guard, remove him."
I was taken away and confined in a
gnard house, but not for long. In about
an hour | was taken to another tent in
the same encampment, and I entered
it to find four or five general officers pres
ent. 1t was to be drum-head court
martial. As 1 afterward learned, re-
port of my capture had been sent to
headquarters, and Mcclellan had replied /:
"Try him by drum-head court martial,
and if found guilty hang him at sunrise.
A drum head court martial is a dignitied
farce. 1t is convened to convict. The
idea is that the victim is guilty, but must
be disposed of according to the regula-
tions of the War Department. The fact
that openly and boldly approached the
Union picket, and that was coming
from the Confederate lines, carried no
weight in my favor. The officer of the
picket said 1 was certainly spy, and that
settled it. When they finally conde-
scended to hear my explanation. gave
my name, and stated that the General
to whom I made my reports would
identify me. I stood in neither awe nor
fear, knowing how easily I could be
identified. Some of the members of the
court were opposed to giving me this
chance for my life, but it was finally de-
cided to despatch an orderly and adjourn
the court for an hour. I was con-
Quoted back to the guard house to wait,
and when ag lin taken before the officers
Iexpccted 10 be disc, aired Without , e,
lay. You can therefore imagine III,